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Monday, April 14, 2014

Philippians 4:4-9

COMMENTS

Don’t you just love how our Lord works?  Saturday, “funk” day, He gave me just what I needed in Philippians 4:4-7; but He had more for me to learn in that passage.  Today, he took me back there again.  Isn’t that further evidence of what we know?  Evidence that He has so many lessons in His Word that we can never see them all!

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”  (Lamentations 3:22-23)


NOTES

As I read the first section of this passage, the Lord revealed to me who I am to BE.

I am to be JOYFUL.  --Verse 4:  “Rejoice” is stated twice in one verse, once with an exclamation point!

I am to be GENTLE.  –Verse 5.   That gentleness should “be evident to all”.  A note I’ve made in my Bible defines “gentle” as being open and magnanimous to others.

I am NOT TO BE ANXIOUS.  –Verse 6.  Interesting that this is the only one stated in the negative.  That must tell us something about our propensity for anxiety….

I am to be PRAYERFUL.  –Verse 6.  We are to present our prayers and petitions to God.  Prayer is more than just asking God for stuff and/or intervention in our circumstances!

I am to be THANKFUL.  –Verse 6.  This gratitude is not just a general thankfulness but, specifically, a gratitude that is expressed to God Himself.

What is the result of being this kind of person?

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 4:7)

However, Paul doesn’t stop here.  Having just told us that God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds, he speaks more to the issue of our thoughts; specifically, of what those thoughts should consist.  This may be the biggest battle of all!  My mind should focus only on what’s:

True
Noble
Right
Pure
Lovely
Admirable
Praiseworthy

I don’t know about you, but my mind goes—seemingly uncontrollably—to things that don’t fall into those categories!  Well, actually, my mind is pretty much uncontrollable to me.  So I go back to who I must BE.  Ultimately, I can only BE and THINK in a Christ-like way when I’m totally surrendered to Jesus Christ and filled with and living under the control of the Holy Spirit.  How in the world can I do that?  Day by day—no!—minute by minute—no!—second by second surrender to the One Who lives in me.

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